Paul Kater - Bactine

Brinno and the others shook their heads. “Nah. Nothing for sure anyways. Some say that it is the Seigner. Some say it is the mouse.”

Daniel grinned at the way Brinno spat out the word ‘mouse’.

“There should na be a passenger on de ship. She’s a cargo ship, na passenger carrier,” another sailor said, proud of his work and not too keen on strangers.

Daniel left the guessing group as he had to do his round over the deck, and under it too. He grinned at the lot as he walked off. Chattering and gossiping as the next man in the market square.

As he returned from the round over the deck, Draiky was no longer on her spot to direct people. Daniel peeked over the side. Some of the carts had left, some were still there. He went below deck and found the ‘Keep Out’ sign still attached to the door. He knocked and opened the door as far as it would go.

“Hey!” someone yelled, “can’t you read?!” The door bounced back. Daniel obviously was not supposed to come in.

“I am the security person for the Pricosine. I just want to check things are okay in there.”

“They’re okay, now go and let us do our job. We’re pressed for time as it is.”

Daniel sighed. “Okay. Have fun in there.” He’d have a look there as soon as the men had left. The fact that a cabin here was being worked in did add body to the rumours that there would be a passenger on board. But perhaps it was something for the future. Daniel disagreed with that last thought. It was still strange that this rush-job was being done only hours before they would take the ship out for a test. Also the comment about the rescue boats…

“You’re looking for ghosts, Zacharias,” he told himself. Instead of ghosts, looking at the cargo bays and checking out the bridge was a better use of his time.

Before going up to the bridge, Daniel went by the galley to have a look around there.

“What’s that?” Draiky asked. “You don’t trust anybody, do you?”

“I am just doing a routine check, Draiky,” he smiled. “I know you are okay, it is just a part of the game.”

“Game. Of course,” Draiky grumbled. She did not allow Daniel to leave without having a cup of tea first, though.

Lidrin was alone on the bridge. The man was on his knees, up to his shoulders inside the housing that had all the controls for the large steering wheel.

“Lidrin, are things well?”

The sailor jumped at the sudden words. He cursed after that, because the compartment he was in did not allow for much jumping. Rubbing his head, he got up. “Oh, it’s you. Hadn’t heard you come in.”

“Sorry, Lidrin. I didn’t know-”

“That’s okay. I shouldn’t be poking in there anyway.” The helmsman closed the door again. “I just wanted to see what they had done to the mechanism. All looks in order though. So what’s this about the mouse coming on board as a passenger for the trip?”

Daniel laughed. “News sure travels fast here.”

Lidrin’s face lit up. “So it is true then! Damn the water-spears, nobody will be happy about that.”

Daniel explained that all he had heard so far were rumours as well.

“Come on, Daniel, tell me what you know.”

“That is all I know, except that Ulaman and Xandree are not here yet,” Daniel insisted. “That, and the workmen who are below, rebuilding a cabin.”

Lidrin nodded. “I saw them too. And the two walls they took out and carried off the ship.”

“Two walls?” Daniel’s eyes became large for a moment. “That’s strange.” He was tempted to contact Gaguran Slindris and ask what was going on, when Lidrin pointed. “The bear and his female are coming back.”

They watched the quay. Indeed. Ulaman’s unmistakable shape and his wife came walking towards the Pricosine.

“They’ll be up soon, we can ask them then,” Lidrin knew. His knowledge proved wrong. The two did not climb up the long gangway, but seemed to wait for something.

“I’m going down there and see what’s going on,” said Daniel.

The helmsman watched him go, slightly envious. He was not allowed to leave his post.

“Ulaman, Xandree,” Daniel said as he reached the two. “Good to see you.”

“Ah. Daniel,” said the captain. “You surveyed the ship, did you?”

“Yes. Everything is in order. I just had no chance yet to check what’s going on in the cabin opposite mine.”

“They are not done yet?” Ulaman pulled a face. “They should’ve been done already.” He raised his voice somewhat and yelled at some of the sailors to go below deck and urge the workmen to hurry. His choice of words was rather creative, especially the part about the fate of the workers if they did not haul their asses of the ship soon. He then turned to Daniel again. “We’re having a visitor on the ship this run.”

Daniel nodded. “Who is it?”

“The Seigner’s daughter.”

“Oh God.” Daniel would have preferred even Gaguran over the woman. Ulaman nodded.

“And why?”

“She asked. That simple. The kid gets everything she wants. And more. I have a list of special orders here concerning her.”

“I don’t envy you,” Daniel said.

“You need not. I have a list for you as well.” With a wide smirk Ulaman pulled a rolled-up stack of paper from his pocket and slapped it in Daniel’s hand. “And your list is longer than mine. Start reading, she should be here soon.”

Daniel stared at the captain. “You’re kidding. This can’t be true. Soon I am going to wake up, right?”

Xandree looked at Daniel. “You’d better read. Or you are up for a very rude awakening.”

Daniel looked at the first page. “Safety. Food. Safety. Language- language?! We’re all screwed.”

“Language, Daniel,” Xandree said with her eternal straight face. And if she could read his mind: “No. Resigning is not an option.”

“Arrggghhh…” Daniel walked back towards the ship, reading the first page of the stack in his hand.

“Daniel!”

He turned around at Ulaman’s voice.

“Get back here. She’s coming. Be nice.” Ulaman looked as if he himself was in trouble also. “At least try to.”

At the end of the quay, three carriages were slowly moving towards them. After a few minutes, they came to a halt in front of the gangway where Ulaman, Xandree and Daniel had taken position.

The door of the first carriage swung open and Gaguran Slindris stepped out. Daniel frowned, until the man turned and reached for the hand of the frilly girl, to help her out of the coach.

The young woman was covered in an amazing amount of fabric, most of it yellow and beige. The dress was very nice if the beholder knew to appreciate it. She picked a small umbrella from the seat and turned towards Ulaman. “Good day, captain Xhylor,” she said with a smile. “Mrs. Xhylor, so pleased to meet you too.” Then she looked at Daniel. Her eyes sampled his leisurely military outfit. “Oh. It’s you.” Her attention went back to Ulaman.

As she was chattering and flattering the captain and his wife, Daniel wondered who would step out of the other carriages, but the doors remained closed. Ulaman’s voice shook him out of his thoughts. “What?”

“Wake up, Daniel. Can you start taking some of Miss Dandra ko Galem’s luggage up?”

Gaguran Slindris frowned at Daniel.

“Luggage? Where is that?” As he asked, a dreadful feeling hit him. The two other carriages. “Oh. Right. Sure.” He stepped away and looked at the railing where some of the sailors were waiting and watching.

“Are you sure that this man is a reliable member of your crew, captain?” he heard the woman say in a tiny sweet voice.

Daniel bit away some words that tried to force their way out. He should -not- make things worse than they already were. He waved his arm at some of the sailors and yelled up that they should come down to help.